Want to know more about Scott Stevens? Get his official bio, social pages and articles on New Country 107.9 YYD!Full Bio
Cost Of An Average U.S. Wedding In 2025
By Scott Stevens
Getting married can be one of the best days of a couple’s life, but it can also be one of the most expensive. The cost of weddings has been steadily climbing over the last five years, and has increased by around 30% since 2019, according to Brooke Avishay, owner of Orange Blossom Special Events.
So, how much does it cost to tie the knot here in the U.S. these days? A 2024 study from Empower finds that couples spent or planned to spend an average of $31,281 on their weddings, but it skyrockets to $51,130 for millennials. And that average total has gone up again for 2025. According to wedding planning site Zola, in 2025, the average wedding will run $36-thousand.
While that Empower study finds that more than half (58%) of Americans think a wedding is priceless and worth the splurge, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. While there are dozens of factors that add up to determine the cost of a wedding, experts say these are seven of the biggest when it comes to budget.
Location - Bigger cities tend to cost more and a wedding in Iowa will cost about a third of one in New York, according to Zola.
Venue and catering - Feeding guests is often the single biggest part of a wedding budget, accounting for as much as half of the total budget.
Guest count - How many people you invite makes a huge difference in the cost of everything, from food and drinks to rentals and even the venue.
Vendors and planning - Between the photographer, florist, band or DJ and wedding planner, if there is one, vendors’ services are important to creating the big day, but they don’t come cheap.
Season - What time of year you walk down the aisle makes a difference. Weekends in “wedding season” - as in warmer months, are pricier, but couples can save by tying the knot during the week or in the winter.
Decor - From florals to lighting, these choices can make a big dent in the wedding budget.
Inflation - It’s one thing couples can’t control, as inflation can increase rental prices and food and labor costs, too.